Steve Mize stands in one of the aisles at Jerry's Market, 513 14th Ave., in downtown Greeley. The 52-year old market has been filling the downtown grocery gap since Safeway closed in 2014. This also makes Jerry's Market the last surviving grocery store in downtown Greeley.

Most locally owned grocery stores went the way of the dinosaur many years ago.

But not Jerry's Market, 513 14th Ave. The downtown Greeley grocery opened in 1964, and it has thrived in recent years. In fact, in the two years since Safeway closed its downtown Greeley location, Jerry's has fulfilled an essential need for many in the city's core.

And the new customers who have come to Jerry's in the past two years have given that store a boost.

"I don't think we really needed it. It was just nice to have a bit of an increase," owner Steve Mize said. "It's always nice to make more."

There are, of course, numerous thriving groceries stores around Greeley operated by chain ownership. We would never wish any of these stores ill, and we're happy to have them. Still, locally owned businesses are important to any community. And we're glad to see Jerry's Market thriving downtown.